Live coverage

Eneco Tour 2013: Stage 1

January 1 - August 18, Koksijde, Netherlands, Road - WorldTour

Stage one of the Eneco Tour takes us through Belgium, 173 kilometers from Koksijde to Ardooije.

2013-08-12T12:27:26Z

Welcome to our live coverage of the first stage of the ENECO Tour. We are starting out in Belgium this year.

2013-08-12T12:29:57Z

The race got underway a little less than two hours ago. Three riders got away early and built up a huge gap. Laurens De Vreese (Topsport Vlaanderen), Pieter Jacobs (Topsport Vlaanderen) and Benjamin Verraes (Accent Jobs-Wanty) had built up a lead of over eight minutes after only 50 kilometers.

2013-08-12T12:33:21Z

That was too much of a gap for the sprinters, who are looking for their chance today, and so Lotto-Belisol and Argos-Shimano started leading the chase.

2013-08-12T12:37:37Z

Argos-Shimano is riding for John Degenkolb, who has extra incentive today. He had his church wedding over the weekend, and tweeted, “After an unforgettable weekend we are here for @EnecoTour, lets thank god that we start with a flat stage” Congratulations to him and wife Laura!

2013-08-12T12:40:03Z

103km remaining from 175km

The gap is now down to 7.13 minutes.

2013-08-12T12:43:59Z

Lotto is of course riding for Andre Greipel.

2013-08-12T12:48:02Z

Degenkolb is not the only Argos sprinter here. The team captain is actually Marcel Kittel, who won so gloriously in the Tour de France.

2013-08-12T12:50:10Z

De Vreese won the first intermediate sprint of the day.

2013-08-12T12:54:11Z

There was a crash earlier, with Borut Bozic, Tom Dumoulin and Tiziano Dall'Antonia amongst the victims. None are injured, we are happy to say.

2013-08-12T12:58:35Z

Last year's edition of the race was won by Lars Boom. He is, of course, here to defend his title.

61km remaining from 175km

And now the gap is down to 3:56.

2013-08-12T13:27:09Z

Boom would gladly repeat his win in this race, but if not, Belkin as another candidate in Wilco Kelderman. “I think Wilco and I make each other stronger. We can help each other," Boom said. Read more here.

45km remaining from 175km

OPQS now at the head of the field and putting up a fierce tempo. For one thing, the gap had crept back up to nearly four minutes, and for another, the wind has picked up. The team hoped that it could possibly drop some of its hopefully-inattentive sprint rivals.

2013-08-12T13:45:18Z

Everyone was paying attention, though, and the echeclons didn't form. The gap is down to 3:04, though.

2013-08-12T13:50:41Z

The three leaders are still doggedly working hard and co-operating beautifully, but they really don't stand a chance.

2013-08-12T13:51:28Z

Wiggins deep in conversation with teammate Bernhard Eisel.

2013-08-12T13:55:45Z

The peloton is riding through a heavily agricultural area here, fields with neat green rows, and then some rather bored-looking cows.